Police scrutinize every hotel in Colchester as manhunt for wealthy missing mother and baby begins on day six

A search for a missing mother and her newborn child has entered day six, with every hotel and B&B in the city of Colchester being inspected.

Police are concerned that 35-year-old Constance Marten may have financial means as she comes from a wealthy landowning family.

Miss Marten and her partner Mark Gordon disappeared after the car they were traveling in broke down on the M61 near Bolton, Greater Manchester on Thursday evening before walking with their little boy.

The family were last seen in Colchester, with Essex Police confirming they have had a number of confirmed sightings in the city.

A search for a missing mother Constance Marten (pictured), 35, and her newborn child has begun day six, screening every hotel and B&B in the city of Colchester

Constance Marten (left), missing with her newborn baby, descends from wealthy landowners with close ties to the royal family. Police have issued an urgent call for help to locate Miss Marten and the baby’s father, Mark Gordon (right).

Officials worked all night yesterday to visit every hotel and bed and breakfast in Colchester to see if the couple and their baby had stayed recently.

The search continues today and leaflets are being distributed to help members of the public identify Miss Marten and Mr Gordon.

Miss Marten comes from an aristocratic landowning family in Dorset with ‘connections to the royal family’. However, it is understood that she has not been in close contact with them for quite some time.

She is the granddaughter of Mary Anna Marten, whose godmother was the late Queen Mother. The family used to own the Crichel estate in Dorset.

Miss Marten’s great-grandfather was Captain Napier Sturt, the third and last Baron Alington. Her father, Napier Marten, was a page to Queen Elizabeth and gave up the £115million family fortune, saying a voice in his head told him to shave his head and go to Australia.

After her car broke down on the M61 near Bolton on Thursday night, Miss Marten was seen wrapped in a red blanket, believed to be at 9am on Saturday in Harwich Port, Essex

A map showing where Constance Marten was seen and where the police are looking

The car the couple were in had been bought six days before they disappeared.

The vehicle broke down near junction four of the M61 near Farnworth on 5 January and they exited the motorway by heading towards the Anchor Lane Bridge which connects the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Evidence indicates that Miss Marten had only recently given birth to the couple’s child and was not examined by medical professionals.

Information from taxi drivers suggests the couple paid cash to travel first to Liverpool and then to Essex. They later stayed at a hotel under false names. They were spotted in Harwich Port in Essex around 9am on Saturday morning.

Amid growing concerns for her well-being, a CCTV image of Miss Marten wearing a red scarf was released near Harwich Port at 9am on January 7th. Police said they were later seen in Colchester and an investigation is ongoing.

Police statements describe Mr Gordon wearing dark clothing while Miss Marten had a southern accent and wore a burgundy coat. The baby is swaddled.

Constance’s ancestors: Lt. Cdr George Marten with wife Mary and daughters Victoria, Charlotte and Georgina

In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston said: “As we have previously said, we believe this search is in the best interests of the young child.

“We know that some sections of the public may find police involvement undesirable and I want to assure you that we do not wish to intrude for any reason other than to ensure the newborn is alive and well.”

He added: “As a parent myself, I know the bond a mother and father have with their child, but I would make a direct appeal to Mark and Constance to put their child’s well-being first.

“For you, Constance, medical professionals still need to examine your baby to make sure he or she is medically well and there are no underlying issues that he or she may need help with. In fact, medical professionals want to examine you for the same reasons.

“Please contact as you wish. We are here and ready to help you.’ Anyone with information is urged to contact 101 immediately.